Raila: I am ready to take the bullet for Matiang'i

 

Raila Odinga has taken his anti-government campaigns to Kisii where he has affirmed he is ready to take the bullet for ex-interior CS Fred Matiang'i.

During his Azimio rallies on Friday, Raila defended the former Cabinet Secretary, saying he is ready to down fighting for him.

“I have told Matiang'i to stand firm, I will die for him. We don't want them(Kenya Kwanza) to return the country to autocracy,” he said.

Raila claimed the government was planning to plant weapons at Matiang'i home when they allegedly tried to raid his Karen home recently.

“I have seen they have started to crack down on Matiang'i and wanted to plant some things in his house so that they would arrest him, this is a man who served the country and should be respected,” he said.

At the same time, Raila told off his former allies-turned critics from the Gusii region, saying he will not be intimidated.

Speaking during stopovers along the Kisii-Sotik Road, the Azimio la Umoja leader said he cannot be silenced by people he had previously helped to grow politically.

In a direct reference to his critics from the Gusii region led by retired Kisii Governor James Ongwae, Raila said such leaders were ungrateful.

"I am telling Ongwae to keep quiet and relax,” Raila said at a stopover rally at Keumbu Market on Friday.

Ongwae had led other leaders in a stinging attack on Raila, warning him against taking rallies to Kisii when his Luo community had already benefited from the government.

Calling his critics traitors, Raila declared that Kisii is like his home and will not be threatened by anybody not to 'come home'.

“There are traitors who said I should not come to Kisii, this is my home, these are people I have helped and are now trying to block me,” he said.

The ODM leader said when he contacted Governor Simba Arati about his trip, the county boss guaranteed him of warm reception.

“I asked Arati whether I would come and he told me to come with all the mighty,” Raila said.